Hastings River Mouse

Rounded nose, prominent eyes surrounded by a dark ring, and tail about the same length as the head and body.

Identification

A medium-sized native rodent with a rounded nose and prominent eyes surrounded by a dark ring. The fur is long and soft, grey-brown on the back merging to off white or grey underneath. The tail is bicoloured, dark on top, cream to white below and about the same length as the head and body. The top of the feet are white and the pads on the hind feet are all oval shaped. Females have only 4 teats.

Habitat

Open forest and woodland with a sedge, grass, heath, fern or rush understorey often along creek lines, ridges, swamps or in moist gullies.

Distribution

Eastern Australia.

Feeding and diet

The diet includes mainly herb foliage and stems, seeds, flowers, arthropods and some fungi.

Other behaviours and adaptations

Once thought to be extinct, this species has a patchy distribution. It occurs in low densities in suitable habitat at altitudes between 250 m and 1250 m. It is nocturnal, sheltering during the day in hollow logs, tree cavities, under rock piles, in epiphytes or underground, generally in areas that have remained unburnt for 5-10 years.

Breeding behaviours

Breeding occurs from around August to March. Females give birth to up to three litters per season with average litter sizes of 2-3. Individuals mature at one year of age and may live up to three years.

Conservation status

Currently listed as endangered in NSW and vulnerable in Qld. The main threats include: habitat alternation due to clearing, grazing, logging, frequent fires and predation by foxes and cats.